Flying target.



No. 727,419. PATENTED MAY 5, 190s c. NELSON.

FLYING TARGET. APPLIUATION"PIL ED JUNE S, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

* WITNESSES: S g INV EVNTOR [Zar/zs/W/san ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES NELSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLYING TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,419, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed June 3, 1902. Serial No. 110,090. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn borough, New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying Targets, of which the following is a specification.

In shooting at flying targets or such as are generally thrown from traps and to be hit while in the air it is desirable to have all parts of the target equally vulnerable, so that shot or missile will effectually destroy the target no matter what point of the target is struck. When such targets are provided with fulminate, they should be constructed in such manner as to be safe for packing, shipping, and handling, but at the same time be sensitive or vulnerable to respond when hit by a missile. To allow the fulminate to be exposed or project to or beyond the edge of a target is dangerous for shipping. To inclose the fulmimate to an excessive degree may prevent what is a fair hit from destroying the target or indicating that the target has been struck.

In carrying out this invention a target satisfactory to the various requirements of trade and use has been constructed, as set forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which-- Figure l is a plan view of the target placed in a ring or weight. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modification. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of other modifications.

In the drawings the target is shown as comprising outer disks or body portions 0. and an interposed fulminate-carrying disk I).

The word disk of course does not necessarily imply a strictly circular outline, as elliptical or polygonal or other form may be included; but circular disks or targets satisfy the general demands of the market.

By the term fulminate I do not mean only an explosive or detonating substance, since material which when hit or pierced will smoke, ignite, or burn more or less slowly may be included by such term. All such modifications are included in the scope of the invention.

The fulminate-disk is made to extend nearly but not quite to the edge or circumference of the body or outer disks, so as to have a margin for safety in packing and handling and at the same time make practically the entire surface of the target vulnerable or liable to ignition or explosion by a missile. of between one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch has been found to fulfil the requirements.

The fulminate or combustible not extending to or having flowed over the edge, no friction of the same against another target or object or against a packing case or box can occur, and if the packing or bundle is roughly handled or dropped such inclosed fulminate cannot strike an outer surface or object.

. Theinnerorfulminatediskbeingofsmaller diameter and accurately centered or placed in the middle of the outer disks, the desired annular safety-margin is secured. Being of such small width, this margin for shooting purposes leaves practically the entire targetsurt'ace vulnerable, since if a bullet or shot strikes the margin such missile still causes enough laceration or piercing of the target to give an igniting shock or rupture to the fulminate 0r ignition disk I).

The f ulminate can be applied to one or both sides of the interposed disk and can be painted or spotted thereon. Should the fulminate be spotted on the target, the spots should be so close together that no shot can pass between without igniting one or more of the spots.

The target when complete can be waterproofed. Dipping in asphaltum will waterproof without affecting the utility of the target.

A roughened material has been found to add to the sensitiveness or ignitibility of the target. A disk or piece of sandpaper, gravel, or the like is indicated at c, Fig. 3, and on a concussion or hit assures ignition.

The target can be thrown by itself or have a ring or weight provided therefor. Such a ring d, having prongs or studs 6 at its edge or circumference, can be made to carry a target. The latter being coextensive with or entirely covering the face of the weight, no missile can strike the weight, at leastnot without first penetrating the target. An offset at one or more of the prongs will enable a trap to take hold for throwing the target.

A margin In a modification, Fig. 4, one of the outer disks is shown broken or perforated. A coverf, of thin paper or like material, will readily burn through when ignition occurs, and the fire can then communicate with or set off the fireworks or combustibles or other contents g in the paper or shell h. The shell it may, however, in place of fireworks be provided with gravel or heavy weight-givi ng material or with a sawdust or like filling.

The waterproofing can be done when the entire target is complete or at some previous step or period. For example, when the fulminate target has been provided, say, on one face or side with composition or combustible and another disk of like small diameter has been applied or secured over the compositionbearing face such structure could be waterproofed or dipped in asphaltum. This compound or waterproofed disk can then be secured between the outer disks, as already described. The outer disks can then be waterproofed or not, as seen fit.

The targets being frequently, if not always, used for open-air practice or shooting, the advantages of waterproofing are obvious, as in the case of rain or of the target falling on wet ground or grass the fulminate is protected.

The fulminate-disks can be made of thicker or heavier material than the outer disks. The fulminate inclosed in thicker inside disks is better protected against accidental explosion or ignition.

It is preferred to have the outer disks of thinner material, as thereby their gluing or securing together is made easy, such thin outer disks being suitably flexible. Also as the outer disks are of larger diameter less material is consumed by making the outer larger disks of thin material and the inner smaller disks thicker than oontrariwise. The fulminate-disk could also be made thick or chambered to provide spaces for receiving gravel or weight, which also acts as scratch or ignition material.

A modification, Fig. 5, consists in having one of the disks chambered or cup-shaped to receive the other disk at and composition disk b. The remaining space of the dish being then filled with combustible or with gravel or weight substance g, a complete target is obtained, which can be thrown without requiring a separate weight, as d. A cover 70 can be applied to the dish-shaped disk shown in Fig. 5.

When the target is heavy enough to dispense with weight (Z, it is flanged, as customary in the art, for a target thrower or spring to suitably engage the target against slipping or prematurely losing hold until the moment when the thrower or trap gives the proper send off.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A flying target comprising three disks, one of said disks being coated on one side with fulminate and inclosed between the other two disks which are perforable, the edges of the outer disks projecting beyond the edges of the inner disk, to provide a margin for safety in handling and transportation, substantially as described.

2. A target comprising outer perforable disks, and an interposed disk of smaller diameter having a recess provided with a filling of fulminate material, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES NELSON.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. E. POENSGEN, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

